When the weather gets colder, you'll want to eat hot pot.
Among them, the one that is a little special is "Botan Nabe."
Botan nabe is a traditional Japanese hotpot dish made with wild boar meat.
This is a nutritious winter dish made by simmering wild boar meat and vegetables in a miso-based broth.
Although it is known as a game dish, it has actually been eaten in Japan for a very long time.
Cooking utensils used
Why is it called "Peony Hot Pot"?
The name "Peony Hotpot" comes from the way the wild boar meat is presented.
When thinly sliced wild boar meat is arranged in a circle,
It is called "Peony Pot" because it looks like a peony flower.
The red meat and white fat overlap and spread out like petals in a beautiful presentation.
The names of the dishes also incorporate this uniquely Japanese aesthetic sense.
Wild boar meat was eaten as medicine
In the past, there was a time in Japan when meat consumption was not very popular, due in part to the influence of Buddhism.
However, wild boar meat was eaten to build up strength in the winter.
At that time, eating meat was called "yakugui" (eating medicine).
It was a popular food that warmed the body and provided nutrients.
As a remnant of that
Boar meat → Peony
Venison → Autumn leaves
Horse meat → Sakura
Without directly saying the animal's name,
A culture of calling things by the names of flowers also emerged.
Peony Hot Pot Recipe
The seasoning of Botan Nabe varies slightly depending on the region and household,
The most common style is to simmer it in miso-based broth.
This time, we will introduce Botan Nabe, made with a simple dashi broth made from a combination of red and white miso.
Ingredients (for 2-3 people)
Wild boar meat (thinly sliced)...300-400g
Chinese cabbage...1/4 stalk Long onion...2 stalks Burdock...1 stalk Shiitake mushrooms...4 stalks Taro...2-3 stalks Carrot...1 stalk Tofu...1 block
【soup stock】
Dashi stock...700ml
Red miso...60g
White miso...60g
This broth combines the richness of red miso with the sweetness of white miso, giving it the flavor typical of Botan Nabe.
How to make it
1. Cut the vegetables into bite-sized pieces. Cut the burdock root diagonally, leaving the skin on.
2. Put the dashi stock in a pot, heat it, and dissolve the red and white miso paste.
3. Add ingredients that take longer to cook, such as taro, carrots, burdock root, and Chinese cabbage core, and simmer.
4. Add the wild boar meat and once cooked, add the remaining vegetables and tofu.
5. Once cooked through, it's done.
Boar meat becomes tough if cooked too long,
The key to enjoying it is not to overcook it.
This hot pot dish is perfect for winter, as it combines the richness of miso with the umami of wild boar meat.
Peony hotpot video
I made a video showing how to make and enjoy peony hotpot.
I hope you enjoy a quiet hotpot time in the winter.
